Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $346 per month in Quetta vs $431 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $537 per month in Quetta vs $665 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $728 per month in Quetta vs $899 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Quetta is about 20% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quetta and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 74% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.52 PKR 977

$1.79 PKR 497

96.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 PKR 2,950

$14.27 PKR 3,959

-25.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 PKR 1,216

$5.26 PKR 1,460

-16.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.60 PKR 445

7.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 431

$3.42 PKR 950

-54.68%

Cappuccino

$1.70 PKR 471

$1.66 PKR 460

2.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.34 PKR 95.5

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.4

$0.21 PKR 58.0

-4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.79 PKR 219

-6.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.56 PKR 156

-17.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.30 PKR 361

-20.77%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 310

$1.14 PKR 316

-1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.92 PKR 1,644

$5.98 PKR 1,660

-1.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.58 PKR 716

$3.26 PKR 906

-20.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.12 PKR 1,143

$4.47 PKR 1,240

-7.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.02 PKR 283

1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.63 PKR 175

-12.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.84 PKR 233

-32.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.50 PKR 139

-4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 87.2

$0.37 PKR 102

-16.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.52 PKR 144

-7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.5

$0.26 PKR 72.8

34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.40 PKR 110

-20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 402

$15.96 PKR 4,429

-90.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.1

$1.02 PKR 284

-66.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 PKR 581

$2.37 PKR 658

-11.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.69 PKR 192

$1.92 PKR 533

-64.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.93

$0.20 PKR 56.6

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.23 PKR 1,453

$9.59 PKR 2,663

-45.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.85 PKR 235

-57.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 171

$0.32 PKR 90.0

93.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 481

$3.09 PKR 858

-44.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 268

$0.95 PKR 264

2.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

23.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$12.1K PKR 3.4M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

-46.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$101 PKR 28.0K

-47.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.41 PKR 1,778

$3.96 PKR 1,100

61.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.32 PKR 3,975

$16.35 PKR 4,537

-12.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.96 PKR 1,378

$9.86 PKR 2,736

-49.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.76 PKR 1,600

$7.42 PKR 2,060

-22.37%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 PKR 805

$3.57 PKR 990

-18.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$34.09 PKR 9,461

$40.97 PKR 11.4K

-16.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$417 PKR 115.7K

$963 PKR 267.2K

-56.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$6.98 PKR 1,937

$11.74 PKR 3,258

-40.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.24 PKR 2,010

$18.96 PKR 5,263

-61.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 PKR 24.2K

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

-2.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.59 PKR 8,213

$29.12 PKR 8,081

1.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.8 PKR 19.4K

$133 PKR 36.9K

-47.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.30 PKR 13.7K

$66.5 PKR 18.5K

-25.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$334 PKR 92.8K

-52.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.5 PKR 26.8K

$173 PKR 48.1K

-44.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$376 PKR 104.2K

$1,133 PKR 314.6K

-66.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$214 PKR 59.3K

$510 PKR 141.6K

-58.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 PKR 75.3K

$176 PKR 48.7K

54.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-40.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Quetta: July 28, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $69.8 in Quetta versus $133 in Rawalpindi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 54% higher in Quetta, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Quetta versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $94.0 – making Quetta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Quetta vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $519 per month in Quetta and $646 in Rawalpindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quetta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Quetta and $14.00 in Rawalpindi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $346 in Quetta and $431 in Rawalpindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Quetta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Quetta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.